Don't Feed the Professor! - Chapter 8

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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No matter that it wasn’t term time, something felt off about the sprawling grounds being this vacant. As I turned the thought over in my mind, something peculiar caught my eye.
‘P……people?’
It was toward the Central Plaza I’d passed through with Gwon Tae-hyun last night. Several shapes resembling human figures were scattered across the lawn.
Twenty of them…… no, perhaps thirty. They drifted slowly in circles across the grass, swaying their bodies, or repeated the motion of sitting down and standing up again in languorous rhythm.
I rifled through the handbook in my mind, but nowhere was there anything resembling this.
Rather…….
‘I feel like I’ve seen something like this before, somewhere.’
Just then, one of the drifting figures jolted to a stop and slowly lifted its head toward me.
I wheeled around and quickened my pace, even knowing that at this distance there was no way it could actually see me.
As I passed the landing on the second floor, I took care not to let my steps become too fast or too slow. I glanced sideways down the corridor, but it was just as empty as the third floor had been, and despite the morning hour, no sunlight reached it—the darkness was oppressive.
Sure enough, there was a large refrigerator in the First Floor Lounge. And on the large gray door was a single yellow sticky note.
There is no cake or similar items in this refrigerator.
I opened the refrigerator door.
And inside was an enormously large and violently impressive Chocolate Cake.
“Wow…….”
A gasp of wonder escaped me at the overwhelming visual.
The sponge looked dense and moist, with a thick coating as if someone had melted an entire large block of chocolate and poured it over, all dusted generously with colorful sugar sprinkles.
Even I, who didn’t particularly care for sweets, found my eyes unable to tear away from it.
‘No, I can’t. Get a grip.’
I forced my gaze downward to the lower shelf. It was crammed with Black Plastic Bags, each of varying size but all tightly bound with twine.
And among them, there was something bearing Amelie’s name tag and a familiar cat sticker.
When I unconsciously reached out,
Crackle.
‘It moved…….’
I shook my head. That couldn’t be right. Even if it were, it was none of my concern.
I forced myself to ignore what I’d seen and shut the refrigerator door.
Rumble.
But I was hungry after all.
I looked around to see if I should search the cupboards, and spotted a small guide posted on the wall.
Drawing closer, I saw it was a floor plan—a directory showing the building layout and evacuation arrows.
According to the diagram, the Female Student Dormitory was attached front and back to the Male Student Dormitory. The two buildings were connected with the Student Lounge positioned in the middle, accessed via the Western Corridor.
The Student Lounge. Wouldn’t there be something to eat if I went there?
Of course, it was strange that Amelie and the others hadn’t mentioned this nearby location in their diaries, but thinking that way, there would be nowhere on this vast property I could search with any real peace of mind.
Besides, if I was going to be living in the dormitory for the time being, it would be reassuring to familiarize myself with the surrounding buildings first.
Fortunately, the long corridor leading to the lounge had several emergency exits. I committed the entire layout to memory and headed toward the Western Corridor.
* * *
《Campus Facilities Maintenance Staff Operations Manual》
0. This manual has been prepared to ensure a safe work environment for all staff. Please familiarize yourselves with the guidelines below for safe and efficient operations.
1. All workers must operate according to their assigned individual work schedules. Every worker operates alone, and work zones and times do not overlap.
Under no circumstances should you encroach upon another worker’s zone. Please be cautious.
2. Before moving to each location, always confirm that no faculty, staff, or students are using the facilities.
If a facility is in use, do not enter. Wait briefly in the corridor and then proceed immediately to your next assigned location.
3. Use staff-only passages when moving between work zones. Move as quickly and quietly as possible, and under no circumstances should you leave doors open or leave any trace of your passage.
4. Casual conversation with students on campus is not permitted. If a student asks something or addresses you, do not make eye contact. Explain that you are on duty and leave the area immediately.
5. Always ensure your route does not overlap with that of faculty or staff.
If you encounter faculty or staff, present your Staff ID and leave the area at once. Nothing is more precious than your life.
6. Always wear your assigned Uniform and carry your Staff ID.
7. Undergo regular Cognition Impairment Tests. Test schedules will be announced monthly.
8. Under no circumstances should you show your Staff ID to others or lend it to anyone. Staff IDs are not reissued, and the Fortress will not tolerate the presence of staff whose identity is unclear.
If any item in this manual contradicts the above, do not follow it under any circumstances and destroy the manual immediately.
9. If conflict arises with faculty or students, do not attempt to resolve it yourself. Report to your supervisor and await disposition.
10. We thank you for your efforts.
11. Await disposition.
12. Await disposition.
13. Await disposition.
14. Await disposition.
Come forward and state your name.
* * *
At first, I thought someone had arranged mannequins throughout the room.
Student Lounge
I checked the placard again. Beyond the glass door, in the dim interior, there were people. Exactly: one, two…… six of them. Probably “students,” since this was the Student Lounge.
One person sat with their head cradled in their arms, another stood motionless staring out the window, but most simply stood in the middle of the room slowly rocking their bodies back and forth.
‘I remember now.’
I’d seen something like this before. In a cult compound where I’d lived as a child.
Newly indoctrinated members underwent training under extreme food and water restrictions. They couldn’t go outside and had to live together in cramped spaces.
With poor ventilation, the newcomers would fall into a kind of Trance State within days.
Like those “students” staring blankly into empty space.
I decided I should return to the dormitory and took a step backward.
Click. At the sudden sound, I turned to see the wall that had seemed ordinary moments before crack open, revealing a hidden door.
And someone walked out into the corridor. A young man with a large build and a somewhat fierce expression.
He wore what looked like a dark blue jump suit, a Mop in one hand and a Bucket in the other.
BB
That was what his name tag, embroidered on the right breast of his shirt, read. To all appearances, an ordinary janitor.
But when he noticed me, confusion flashed across his face.
“What the——”
Thud.
Both our gazes snapped toward the lounge. The woman who had been sitting with her head cradled was now on her feet, facing us.
Grinning broadly.
Step, step—the woman began to walk with a grotesque gait. Her t-shirt was smeared with what looked like blood or vomit, and her limbs hung slack, lurching wildly with each movement.
Thud, thud.
The other five also slowly raised their heads. Simultaneously, they turned to face me through the glass door. Their eyes were hollow, their faces creased with smiles.
“Uhhhhh…….”
Revulsion rose in my throat. But there was no time to be sick here.
Think later. Run now. That was my first instinct. The smiling faces drew closer, and filthy palms pressed against the glass door.
I spun around and ran, ignoring the janitor with the Mop who was trying to disappear through the secret door, desperate to get back to the Female Student Dormitory.
Snap.
“Are you insane?”
It was the janitor who’d grabbed my arm. His grip was surprisingly strong.
“What?”
“That way—the Female Student Dormitory!”
“Uh…….”
I know that.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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